Thousands gathered for the first time to join the grand procession of the sacred relic of Shakyamuni Buddha – a national treasure of India – around Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem Lake on the evening of May 13.

The event was held to commemorate Buddha’s birthday, bringing spiritual meaning and unity to the celebration.

At 7 p.m. on May 13, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha conducted a ceremonial procession of the relic of Shakyamuni Buddha from Quan Su Pagoda around Hoan Kiem Lake. The event honored the Buddha's birth and was held to pray for peace, national prosperity, and favorable weather.

This marked the first time Vietnam hosted a procession of the Indian national treasure around Hoan Kiem Lake.

The procession began at Quan Su Pagoda at 7 p.m., with nearby streets packed with people. The route included Ly Thuong Kiet Street and Hang Bai Street, leading to Hoan Kiem Lake.

Speaking with VietNamNet, Venerable Thich Minh Quang, Secretary of the Executive Council and Deputy Chief of the Central Office of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, explained that every year during Vesak, the Sangha organizes Buddha processions with the support of local authorities, particularly the Hanoi government, to celebrate the occasion.

By 8 p.m., Hang Bai Street was overwhelmed by crowds forming a sea of people.

“This year, for the first time, we are honored to receive the relic of Shakyamuni Buddha – a national treasure of India – in Vietnam. With Hanoi’s permission, we organized this special procession around Hoan Kiem Lake to allow more people and Buddhist followers to venerate the relic. This is a rare and sacred opportunity,” said Venerable Thich Minh Quang.

According to him, the procession of the relic around Hoan Kiem Lake during Vesak allows the people and Buddhist devotees to unite in sincere prayers for national peace and the well-being and happiness of all.

The procession continued along Le Thai To and Ba Trieu streets. After completing its route around Hoan Kiem Lake, the relic was enshrined in the main hall of Quan Su Pagoda for public worship and veneration.

The crowd participating in the procession included people of all ages and backgrounds, all devoutly chanting “Namo Shakyamuni Buddha” as they walked.

As reported by VietNamNet, dozens of flower-decorated vehicles moved slowly along the streets during the procession.

From May 14 to 16, the relic will be available for public veneration from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day.

On the morning of May 17, the relic will be taken to Tam Chuc Pagoda in Ha Nam Province, where it will be enshrined in the Tam The Hall until noon on May 20, 2025, for continued public worship.

Binh Minh - Pham Hai - Manh Hung - The Bang